What tests must you take in high school?
Under the new STAAR program students take
15 end-of-course (EOC) assessments. Students take these tests as they complete each
corresponding course.
The 15 EOC assessments are:

English I Reading, English II Reading,
English III Reading

English I Writing, English II Writing, English III Writing
• Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
• Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• World Geography, World History, and
U.S. History
In addition, a student’s score on the STAAR
EOC assessment will now count 15 percent
toward the student’s final grade in that course.
What if you pass the course but fail the test?
If a student passes the course, but does not
earn the required minimum score on the EOC
assessment, the student will retake the test.
The student is not required to retake a course
as a condition of retaking the test.
The school is required to provide accelerated
instruction to each student who fails to perform
satisfactorily on any EOC assessment.
What is the difference between a minimum
score and a passing standard score?
Minimum scores vary by course, for example
3371 for Algebra I, about 31% of questions
correct. The passing standard score is 3500.
The score thresholds increase for students
entering 9th grade in 2012-13.
What do you need to graduate?
To graduate, a student must meet the minimum score on each assessment AND meet
the minimum cumulative score on all of the
EOC assessments taken in each content area: English, math, science, and social studies.
Besides meeting the cumulative score requirement in each of four core content areas, students on the Recommended High School Program, which is the standard graduation plan,
must pass the Algebra II, English III Reading,
and English III Writing EOC assessments. The
passing standard score for each test for students who entered 9th grade in 2011-12 is
3500, this includes Algebra II. The English
passing standard, including English III, is divided equally between Reading and Writing at
1875 each (1875 + 1875 = 3500.)
What are the consequences when a score is
below the minimum standard?
The student will retake the test until at least a
minimum score is achieved. The fall 2012 retake administration is the week of Dec. 3 – 7.
Retake administrations are offered several
times each year at the student’s campus. Students are automatically registered to retake
tests when their score is below the minimum.
What are the consequences when a score is
below the passing standard but above the
minimum standard?
Example:
Students are encouraged but not required to
retake the test. To graduate, the minimum cumulative score on the three tests for each content area equals three passing standard
scores. Therefore, any score below 3500 must
be compensated with a score, or scores,
above 3500 on another EOC test in that content area. Students should retest to raise their
score. Even if a retest score does not meet
the passing score of 3500 an increase is still
helpful for meeting the minimum cumulative
score requirement. A lower score on a retest
will not hurt a student, only the highest score
is used when calculating the cumulative total.
A student takes the Algebra I, Geometry, and
Algebra II assessments as he completes each
course. The EOC scores for each math
course are added to calculate a cumulative
math score.
Students are not automatically registered to
retake tests when their score is above the
minimum but below the passing standard. Students must meet with their guidance counselor to register for a retake administration.
The STAAR graduation requirements apply to
students first entering the ninth grade in the
fall of 2011 and thereafter. All other current
high school students graduate under the
TAKS assessment program.
How are cumulative scores calculated?
Sample: 3500 + 3500 + 3500 = 10,500
A cumulative math score of 10,500 is the minimum required to graduate on the Recommended High School Program.
Where can I find more information about the
STAAR testing program?
The latest information about STAAR can be
found at
www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
Help for parents
Frequently asked questions:
If my child did not achieve the minimum score or the
passing standard score on the EOC then what can I do
to help?





Talk with your child about graduation
requirements and about how success
on each STAAR End of Course test is
critical. Together, write down a timeline
for retaking the test(s) and for studying
for those retake opportunities. The next
retake administration is December
3 - 7, 2012.
Americas High School
A Guide for Parents
to the
With your child, discuss ways to
prepare to retake the test(s). For
example, your child’s current course in
that content area is related and
mastery of the current material can
help. Your child’s current teacher can
also recommend resources.
STAAR
End of Course
Tests
Help your child attend after-school
tutorials. Several weeks each month
Americas High School schedules
accelerated instruction to prepare
students to retake EOC tests.
Establish a weekly schedule at home to
study for the retake test. Study
materials are available from the school
and can be found online.
Help your child become familiar with
the score requirements of the EOC
tests. Helpful information is explained
inside this brochure.
and
Graduation Requirements
More Information:
In addition to discussing EOC tests with your child’s
teachers, you may also visit the campus website. On the
Americas High School home page look for ‘End of
Course’.
OR
Call a campus Administrator or a Curriculum Coach
at Americas High School, 915-937-2800.
If your child had difficulty achieving
successful scores on the 9th grade STAAR
EOC tests taken during May 2012 or
retaken during July 2012 then you should
find helpful information in this brochure.
Scores mentioned inside address test results from May and July 2012. Students entering 9th grade in the 2012-13 school year
fall under different score requirements.